Dr Jason Mansell from UWE's Centre for
Research in Biosciences is currently developing superior,
multi-functional bone biomaterials for orthopaedic and dental
applications.

The research team currently comprises
Professor Ashley Blom (University of Bristol and Regional
Director of the Health Integrated Team for Orthopaedics), Professor
Stephen Denyer (Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Brighton), Dr
Wayne Ayre (Bioengineering, Cardiff University), Dr Rachael
Gooberman-Hill (Patient and Public Involvement, University of
Bristol) and Dr Tom Scott (Director of the Interface Analysis
Centre, University of Bristol). An estimated £300m is spent
each year on surgical revisions for failed total joint
prostheses.

Dr Mansell is leading research on enhancing
the material properties of prosthetic materials (primarily
titanium) by coating them with a simple bioactive lipid which he
discovered enhanced the action of vitamin D3 metabolites on bone
forming osteoblast cells. “It’s widely recognised that vitamin D3
is key to skeletal health and if you can find ways of enhancing
that vitamin D3 effect at a prosthetic surface then you’re more
likely to encourage better bonding of the implant to the patients’
bone.” Dr Mansell stresses that “by encouraging better bonding you
have the real chance of reducing implant failures through
loosening, from both a financial and patient healthcare perspective
these changes would be especially significant.”

Through the support of the Severnside Alliance
for Translational Research (SARTRE) Dr Mansell and his team have
made significant progress in developing bio-functionalised titanium
which exhibits two noteworthy properties. In the first instance
human osteoblast responses to vitamin D3 are enhanced when they are
exposed to the lipid-modified metal. Secondly the functionalised
material exhibits anti-adherence properties towards a bacterium
often associated with implant failures through infection, namely
MRSA. Biomaterials that exhibit these particular properties have
not been described elsewhere which places Dr. Mansell and his team
at a unique clinical advantage.

Speaking about the importance of the research
Dr. Mansell explains that “the socioeconomic cost of revision
arthroplasty will only rise given the prediction of an increasing
elderly demographic. To tackle this major healthcare issue we need
to find ways of enhancing the overall quality and performance of
existing bone biomaterials like titanium. The recent finding that
our modified devices also deter the attachment and growth of MRSA
makes our functionalisation strategy even more appealing to the
implant manufacturers and our healthcare providers.”